Here it is 2021. In the year 2020 we witnessed the tragic death of George Floyd as it was shown across various media news outlets. The video went viral, showing Officer Derek Chauvin using a restraint technique on Mr. Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes. As bystanders watched, the words, “I can’t breathe” echoed throughout that corner street in Minneapolis with witnesses and training officers standing still in place.
Many questions come to mind as the nation witnessed this tragic death. I have had many people reach out to me asking for my point of view. Some have told me “George Floyd killed George Floyd.” Others have said, “Office Chauvin committed murder, along with his counterparts, and choked the life out of Mr. Floyd.” I have had people contact me asking what I thought about Mr. Chauvin’s behavior wondering if he just kneeled carelessly or was something else going on in his
mind?
The criminal proceedings have started in the case against Mr. Chauvin. Did George Floyd ultimately kill himself because of the high levels of Fentanyl, which causes depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system, found in his system along with other drugs? Would he have survived had Mr. Chauvin not restrained him with the knee compression technique for over eight minutes and performed CPR right on the spot without waiting for EMT’s to arrive?
The fact of the matter, this is tragedy all the way around. We have a guy who has been taught a way of life and chose to adhere to those lessons, i.e., drug use, passing counterfeit money etc. This was what he knew and what was the norm for his life. Does it make it his fault that he died on that tragic day? Absolutely not. No matter what his choices were, Mr. Floyd’s life mattered.
Now, lets look at it from the officer’s point of view. Officer Chauvin has responded to thousands of calls over the course of his eighteen-year career. Although he has been trained covering all kinds of calls, I do not think he showed up for work that day planning to have someone die while under his care. The questions that need to be address is, what was the intent behind Mr. Chauvin using the neck technique for so long? Where were his thoughts at? What was racing through his mind?
I cannot make the judgement call on this. A jury of his peers will do that after examining and processing all the evidence and contributions from the prosecutor and defense throughout the trial. What I can do is say this, there are ultimately two parties responsible. Mr. Floyd was under the influence of a highly dangerous drug and should not have been trying to pass counterfeit money or resist arrest. Yet, those behaviors do not warrant for what he endured for over nine minutes. Would he still be alive today had he not had a run in with the law? Your guess is as good as mine. At first, word when Mr. Floyd said, “I can’t breathe” the officers should have assessed the situation more closely and called for medical support immediately. He was no longer resisting arrest, had calmed in his breathing and struggle, and no longer posed a threat, but I am not a cop, and I do not know what I would do in the exact situation.
With regards to Mr. Chauvin and the other officers, I cannot help but to wonder why someone did not step in. I will tell you why. Behind the blue, you respect your commanding officer at all costs. Human nature may prompt us to say, “hey that’s not right” or to step in, but in the police culture, you do not confront or question a commanding or superior officer. I worked with police officers during my clinical years, and I would like to think if I saw someone’s life in jeopardy, such as Mr. Floyd’s, that I would jump in even if it cost me everything because after all, his life mattered. We must also look at this from a social conformity perspective and understanding the bystander effect. If one person, just one, would have taken immediate action, others would have followed. We are more likely to participate in something or take a stand against something if one person initiates it and others follow. Sure, people were speaking up at the scene and were ordered to step back. They were following social conformity. We have been taught to obey the law. I do not blame any of the bystanders who witnessed the tragic death of George Floyd. They were doing what they knew to do. Can you imagine the trauma they are carrying with them today with what they endured in witnessing a life coming to an end and being restrained from doing anything about it?
I think the lesson here is to try to be open to various perspectives. We do not have all the facts. We do not know what we would do in that exact situation. Sure, our minds can tell us one thing, but when it comes right down to action sometimes the stress and adrenaline can impact our decision-making process. Would we be caught in a fight or flight scenario? I do not know. I am sad that George Floyd lost his life. I would have loved to have spoken to him to learn about the story of his life. I am also sad that Officer Chauvin went to work one day to serve and protect and is now standing trail for the death of Mr. Floyd. I honestly do not think he showed up for work responding to that call with the intent to kill George Floyd. However, I do think he is culpable for misuse of the neck restraint and not administering life-saving measures at the scene. Just goes to show your life can change in an instant as result of your actions or inaction or the result of someone else’s actions and inaction.
As we watch the process unfold, let us continue to pray for peace and healing throughout our communities. This tragedy impacted so many families, communities, and social constructs. There are no winners here. It will not be a victory if Officer Chauvin is found guilty or innocent. The fact of the matter is a life was lost. A family was shatter. Civil unrest exploded. The only good that can come from this is the awareness of the dangers of drug use, the awareness that police misconduct does occur, and communities coming together to bridge the divide and create an awareness of acceptance and understanding. Racism is a systemic problem. Oppression is a systemic problem. Police misconduct and brutality is a systemic problem. Considering all this, no single person has the answers as to how to address the problems, but we can, bit by bit, step by step, piece by piece, identify the subset of each problem to find appropriate solutions to mitigate the risk of this type of tragedy from happening again.